Velocipede



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

J. S. COPELAND.

VBLOGIPEDE.

No. 371,432. Patented Oct. 11, 1887.

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(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

J. S. COPELAND. VELOGIPEDE.

N0. 371,432. Patented Oct. 11, 1887.

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UNTTso STATES PATENT Oriana.

JAMES S. COPELAND, OF HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR TO THE POPE MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF PORTLAND, MAINE.

VELOCIPEDE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 371,432, dated October 11, 1857.

Serial No. 219,131. (No mo lel) To all whom it may concern.-

Be it k nown that I, JAMES SCOPELAND, of the city and county of Hartford, in the State of Connecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Veloripedes, of which the following is a specification.

My present improvements relate more particularly to the steering mechanism of velocipedes and the connections between thehandlebar and steering wheel, and between these and the reach or frame, and the object of them is to produce a steering mechanism having certainty and efficiency in action, with adjustability of bearing parts, with a mechanical or automatic tendency to rectitude of action that is, to the keeping of a certain course as against incidental deflections-and adjustability of the force or degree of this tendency.

In order that thenature of my improvements may be fully understood, I have shown them in the accompanying drawings as applied in one form in a handlebarand front-wheel-stecring tricycle, by reference to which -I will describe them, though they may be equally applicable in safeties, in tandems, or other veloripedcs.

In the drawings, Figure 1 shows in side elevation a portion of the reach and front fork of a tricycle and a steering-head, handle-rod, handle-bar, and handle; and Fig. 2 shows the same things partly in vertical section.

A. is a reach or part of the frame of the velocipede, and Bis a fork in which the steeringwheel is carried, the wheel not being shown in the drawings; but as it is to be carried in the usual way it will be fully understood, as well as the remainder of the frame-work of a veloeipede and other parts which are not here shown.

B is a steering-spindle forged upon or rigidly connected with the steering'fork, and which may be hollowed or bored out for lightness, and to which I attach, by bra-Zing or otherwise, or which I extend in tubular form, the extension Biconnecting the spindle B with the handlerod C. This handle-bar Csupports the handle bar or bars C, having the handle C for the hand of the rider; and I prefer to construct this handle-rod C in a separate piece inserted in the tubular extension B and adjustable therein for different heights or lengths.

I also make the velocipede with an inclination of the fork, spindle, extension, and handle-rod from the perpendicular toward the seat of the rider, in order to bring the handles to better position. It is obvious, however, that part of the advantages of my improvements could be obtained without this inclination, or at a different inclination, and with the handle-rod, extension, and spindle rigidly connected or in one integral piece.

A is a socket or tubular steering-head eonnccted rigidly with the reach A and inclosing the steering-spindle B and part of the extension B so as to give along bearing, or, as I prefer to make it, two considerably separated bearings, between the socket and the spindle and extension for rigidity and durability of construction. I make this socket also with split lugs A A, which may be tightened together by means of the bolts a a", to properly adjust the bearings on the spindle and the extension and to take up for wear.

At the upper end of the socket I make a hardened collar, A with a groove in it on its upper surface, and adjacent to this I place another smaller collar, F, and between them a row of hardened steel balls, G.

At the bottom of the spindle B and upon the top of the fork B, I form a shoulder, and around it I place a collar, H, cam-formed on its upper side,as shown,and I form the lower end of the socket A with a corresponding cam formed in reverse to rest upon and fit the cam-collar, so that the socket shall have a free bearing on the cam and onthe spindle and on the extension. I make this cam-collar H with a split lug, which may be tightened by the bolt h to fit it closely to the spindle in proper position and secure it rigidly there. I also apply to the upper end of the extension B a loose collar or clamp, B, which I form with a split lug and a tightening-bolt, b. I also split the upper end of the extension for a short distance, as well as the bushing b which is inserted in the upperend of the extension to give a good hearing be tween the extension and the handle-rod O. The object of this clamp 13 is to secure the handle-rod C and the extension B rigidly together in any desired position.

The operation of this contrivance is as follows: In assembling, the camcollar H is placed ICO in position at the bottom of the spindle, as shown, and is temporarily set. The socket A is then placed upon the spindle and extension and temporarily set to bearings. The ringFis then slipped over the extension, and a eircu-' lar row of balls G inserted between this ring and the bearing-ring, A. The spring D is then slipped on above these, and the followingclamp E is temporarily set against the spring. Then the handle-rod O is inserted, the clamp B being in place and temporarily set. Now, by loosening the bolt b the liandlerod 0 may be raised or lowered to bring the handle bars G and handles to any desired height, accord ing to the necdof the individual rider. Then the bolt I) is tightened again, and the clamp B holds the rod and extension, and therefore the spindle and fork and handle mechanism, rigidly together. The bolt h is then loosened and the steering wheel trued to the frame, so that it shall be exactly at right angles to the main axle of the machine, or, rather, so that it shall be true in the plane of a direct advance of the machine. The cam H is set or secured in this position by tightening the bolt '71, so as to hold it rigidly. Then the bolt eis loosened and the collar E allowed to rise by the action of the spring, or is forced down against the action of the spring until the desired tension of the spring is secured-that is, until the resistance of the mechanism to any deflection of the wheel, which may be tested by turning the handle bars and rod to right and left, is remedied-and then the bolt e is set up and the follower E secured in position on the extension. Now, itis obvious thatthe cam form of the collar H and of the lower end of the socket prevents the turning of the fork B and collar H in the socket A, except as the socket A is raised against the tension of the spring D, and any such deflections by inequalities or small obstructions in the road way affecting the steerin'gwheel this tension will be sufficient to prevent; also, that this tension will operate to restore the fork and the wheel to their direct or. true position after any deflection, and the tendency to this restoration will be strong or direct in proportion to the tension given to the spring D.

It is also obvious'that the circular row of balls G and the two rings in which they work afford an easy and adjustable bearing between the spring and the socket, permitting the full and free action of both.

It is also obvious that modifications in form and arrangement of the parts herein shown and described may be made without departing from the substance of my invention, and I do not mean to limit myself to the precise things shown and described.

I am aware that a cam and a spring has heretofore been used in the steering mechanism of a velocipede, and also an extended socket and spindle, and I do not claim these.

I claim as new and of my invention-- 1. The combination of handle-rod O, tubular extension B steering-fork B, spindle B, and a socket, as A, attached to the reach and having means, as A a for adjustment of the bearing on the spindle.

2. The combination of handle-bar G, tubular extension B, steering'fork B, spindle B,

and a socket, as A, attached to thereach and 7 having means, as A a and A a, for adjustment of its bearings on the spindle and exten- 810K].

3. The combination of handle rod, extension, stceringfork and spindle, socket and reach, cam and spring, and a follower to regulate the tension of the spring.

4. The combination of handle rod, extension, steering-fork and spindle, socket and reach, cam and spring, and a ball-bearing between the socket and spring.

5. The combination of steering-fork, spindle and tubular extension, socket and reach,

ball-bearing and adjusting device, and a device, as 13 0 for securing the rod and the extension in position.

6. Combined in a velocipedesteering met-han'ism, a cam, as H, a socket, as A, an adjustable spring, as D,'with a device or devices for regulating the tension of the spring and the resistance of the inclined socket seat against the cam.

7. In a veloeipede steering mechanism, the combinatiomwith a spindle, as B. and socket, as A, haying a curved or inclined seat, of an adjustable cam'collar, as H, and a device for holding it in position. I

8. In a velocipede steering mechanism, and combined with a steering-fork and spindle, an adjustable socket, as A,.having an extended bearing on the spindle, and means, as A a, for tightening the bearing and taking up for wear.

9. Combined in a velocipcdc-steering mechanism, with a fork, spindle, extension, cam, socket, reach, and a spiral spring, as D, operating to force the socket toward the cam, an adjustable follower, as E, with a device for securing it in different positions to regulate the tension of the spring and the resistance of the socket and cam.

J. S. COPELAND. Witnesses:

F. E. BELDEN, D. J. POST.

IIO 

